“The Department for Transport says education, engineering and enforcement are key to road safety. One cannot exist without the other.

“The committee recommends research to determine whether the use of diversionary education courses for poor driving has produced the required deterrent effect.”

She added: “If enforcement of road traffic laws is to be effective, the decline in specialist roads policing officers must be halted.”

Department for Transport figures for 2014 show that road fatalities grew by 4% from the previous year to 1,775 and the number of people seriously injured increased by 5% to 22,807.

Neil Greig of the Institute of Advanced Motorists said, while most law-abiding drivers would welcome the committee’s report, it was “unlikely to be possible” for police forces to increase their number of specialist traffic officers due to budget restraints.

He added: “Targeted enforcement, better intelligence and more efficient use of police resources could be just as effective. Every police officer should be on the look-out for road traffic offenders.”

The RAC’s Pete Williams said: “The sharp decline in roads policing officers appears to be having the very unwelcome effect of leading to fewer people being caught for illegal activity.

“It stands to reason that if a law exists, it needs to be enforced effectively.”

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